Cartridge.



H. HASTING.

CARTRL 3E.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 26. |9l7.

1,263,763. Patented Apr. 23, 1918.

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UNITED STATES PATENT orator...

' HOMER HASTIhTG, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

CARTRIDGE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be-itknown that I, HOMER HASTING, a

citizenof the United States, residing" at Detroit, in thecounty of Wayneand State-of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements inCartridges, of which the l following is I a specification.

This invention relates to electrically discharged cartridges andammunition and pertains particularly to an improved form of cartridgeproviding positive electrical discharges or sparks in the mass ofpowder.

One object of the invention is to provide I an electrically dischargedcartridge having a plurality of spark gaps.

Another object of the nvention is to provide an electrically dischargedshell in which there isno detonator orprimer substance -needed and inwhichthe main and only charge of'explosive is packed around the sparkgaps.

Another object of the invention is to. pro- ;vide an electricallydischarged cartridge in which there is provided'a novel removable buttend having a screw threaded connection with the main casing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a'n electricallydischarged cartridge in which an insulating block of nonconduotivematerial is tapered and adapted to fit into'a corresponding taperedopening in the buttend;

, ing'drawing in which:

' Figure 1 represents in partial long1tud1- The aboveand other detailsand advantages of the construction will be described and claimed in thefollowing specification and claims and illustrated in the accompanynalsection the construction of the cartridge assembly. r

Fig. 2 represents the butt end of the cartridge showing the insulatedblock portion and the outer end of the electrodes.

Fig. 3 represents the construction shown in Fig. 1, with the butt endunscrewed from the casing.

Fig. 4 representsthe same type ofbutt' endconstruction adapted for usein -a ta pered casing.

end.

. r ridge.

Fig. 5 represents a form similar to that l 4 butwith an annular spaceshown in Fig. between the end of the casing and? the butt Fig. 6'illustrates diagrammatically =the electrical circuit jusedin'connection with the I struction provides a casing separable from ;onthe wall of the opening.

the opening and the shape of the plug 6 so Specification of LettersPatent. Patented Apr, 23, 1918, Application filed October 26, 1917.Serial No. 198,723. I

Referring in detail to the construction of the cartrldge illustrated inthe various figures, 1 indicates a tubular cartridge casing with acentrally located opening extending through the thickness of the buttend member and is tapered flaring inwardly toward the bore of thecasing. A complementary tapered insulating plug 6 is provided with screwthreads 7 and is adapted to be seated in the opening in the butt endmember 3 and have a screw. threaded engagement with corresponding screwthreads provided By forming as to locate the larger end of the plug 6 onthe inside 0f.the cartridge, any weakening of. the construction byexplosions is prevented, each additional discharge or use of thecartridge forcing the plug tighter within its retaining walls. Extendingthrough the insulating plug 6* and axially of the sa'me is a centrallylocated electrode memher 8, terminating substantially flush with theinsulating material 6 on the outside end of the shell or cartridge andprojecting on the opposite side well into the bore 2. A second electrodemember 9 extends in a similar way through the insulating plug 6 andprojects into the bore 2. This electrode 9 however has a "recurved endportion 9 extending across the end of the electrode 8 "and terminatingin close proximity to the inner wall of the casmg 1.

By this construction a double spark gap is provided between the portion9 and the electrode 8 and between the casing 1 and the end of theelectrode part 9?.

the butt end member which may be removed to ad ust or renew theelectrodes. The cartridge is practically safe as compared to the usualtype of cartridge having a primer.

substance and a cap which may be set ofl' byimpact andalso may beconstructed read- 11} to be absolutely water tight at its butt end.

The invention may be applied ,to any shape of cartridge casing such asthe cylinfdrical form illustrated in Figs. 1 and'i-S, and

- casing 1.

.any type. j i at 11 and a wire 12 connects the coil with the first andsecond electrode.

may also be adapted to the type of cartridge casing having the taperedwalls such as illus-L trated in Figs. 4 and 5.-

The method of discharging the cartridge will be understood from thefollowing de- 'scription. Referring to Fig. 6 the electrical circuitsare shown diagrammatically ascon- Y nected to the cartridge describedherembefore. A battery isindi'cated at 10 and is designed to representany source of. electric; ity and may be a generator or magneto of Aninduction coil is indicated electrode 8. The opposite side of the sourceof electricity 10 is provided with a wire 13 leading to a switch 14..From this switch 14; a choice of circuits maybe had by the wire 15leading'to the second electrode 9 or the wire 16 leading to the butt endmember 3 whichis in electrical connection with the A switch 17 isprovided in the path of the wire13 so as to control the ap 'plication ofelectricity to the cartridge.'

When the switch 14: is thrown to the wire 15 there will be a singlespark between the end of the electrode 8 and the curved porfion of theelectrode 9, .as indicated by X. When "the switch 14.- is thrown to thewire 1d there will vbe formed a spark between the end of without need ofthe care which must be used i -with the ordinary type of cartridge whichmay be discharged by impact. The present:

construction also provides unusually efi'ecti've firing means by the useof a plurality of the sparks in a single circuit and a construction inwhich the spark gap may be covered U I and embedded in the main chargepowder or explosive.

What I clalm its: 1.; A cartridge comprising, a tubular casing having acentral bore'and formed of electric ally condu tive material, a 'buttend.

part connected to said casing, a first elec-- trode extending throughsaid butt end part and projecting beyond the same'into said bore, asecond electrode spaced from said first electrode and extending throughsaid butt end part and projecting beyond the same and curved to projectacross the .end of said first electrode-and terminating near the innerwall of said casing, and insulating material between the. saidelectrodeand between the latter and said butt end, aspark gap beingprovided-between the end of said. first electrode and said secondelectrode and between the'latter and said casing. p

2. A cartridge comprising, atubularcasing ofelectrically conductivematerial having a central bore, abutt'end part connected to said casing,an electrode extending through said butt end andtprojecting into saidbore and terminating at a point adjacent the casing wall but spacedtherefrom to form a spairk'gap, and insulating matergl between said'electrode and said butt e 3. A cartridge comprising a tubular cas-.ing'of electrically conductive" material having a central bore, abuttend part oi electricallyconductive material having a screw threadedconnection with said casing, and

an electrode extending throughsaid butt end part and insulated from thesame and terminatin'g within said bore at a point in close proximity'tosaid casing to provide a spark ap. v 4. A cartridge comprising. atubular casing of electrically conductive material having a" centralboreya' butt end part of electrically conductive material connected tosaid casing. and having a tapered opening therethrough flaring inwardlyinto said bore, a. complementary tapered plug of electricallynonconductive material fitting into said tapered opening and having itssmaller end farthest from said bore and an electrode extending throughsaid plug and projecting into said bore and terminating in closeproximity to said casing wall but spaced therefromto form a'spark gap.

5. A cartridge comprising a tubular casing of electrically-conductivematerial having a central bore, a butt end part of electricallyconductive material having-a screw threaded connection with said casingand having a tapered opening therethrough flaring inwardly toward saidbore, a complementary plug of electrically nonconductive materialfitting into said tapered opening and having its smaller end farthest"from said bor'e,,a first electrode extending through said plug andcentrally located withrespect the first electrode and terminate near theinner wall of said dasing, a st ark gap being provided between saidelectrode within said bore and between the end of said second electrodeand said casing.

6. A cartridge comprising a tubular casing of electrically condtictivematerial having a central bore, a butt, end part of electricallyconductive material having a screw threaded connection with said casingand having a tapered opening therethrough flaring inwardly toward saidbore, a complementary plug of electrically nonconductive materialfitting into said tapered opening and having its smaller end farthestfrom saidbore, a first electrode extending through said plug andprojecting beyond the same into said bore, and a second electrodeextending through said plug and projecting beyond the same and curved toproject near the first electrode and terminate near the inner wall ofsaid casing. a spark gap being provided between said electrode Withinsaid bore and between the end of said second electrode and said casing.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HOMER HASTING.

